Grey Seal surveys in the Wadden Sea and Helgoland in 2013-2014

Grey seal population recovered after decrease

The German and Dutch Wadden Sea areas were surveyed for grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) by means of coordinated aerial and boat counts during the pupping season (November-January). On Helgoland (Germany), surveys were carried out from land. Furthermore, dedicated grey seal aerial surveys were carried out during the moulting period (March-April) in the German and Dutch Wadden Sea. In the Danish Wadden Sea grey seals were only counted during the summer counts for harbour seals (Phoca vitulina).

Authors: Sophie Brasseur, Richard Czeck, Britta Diederichs, Anders Galatius, Lasse Fast Jensen, Peter Körber, Ursula Siebert, Jonas Teilmann, Sascha Klöpper